Singing with Meaning: What the Song Is About
Primary 1 · Creative Arts
Singing with Meaning: What the Song Is About
Lesson 5 of 8
12 min
Let's begin
A new baby has come to the house next to Niyonzima. All day, people keep arriving.
In the evening he hears singing outside, and a drum. Nobody is going home.
Today you will learn what that gathering is, and what its songs say.
A new baby arrives in a family.
The family and the neighbours come together to welcome that baby.
That gathering is called a birth ceremony.
Here in Rwanda the baby is also given a name at a celebration, and everybody comes.
They sing, and somebody beats a drum.
They cook, and they eat together.
They bring small gifts for the baby and for the mother.
They say kind words over the baby.
A birthday is for a child who has already been here a year or more.
A birth ceremony is for a baby who has only just arrived.
One of them counts years. The other one says welcome.
Listen to the words at a birth ceremony. They are all doing one job.
You are welcome here. You belong to us. We are glad you came.
Worked example
A song keeps saying: a child has come to our home.
Step 1 Find the line that comes back. It is that one.
Step 2 Ask who the song is talking to. It is talking to the baby.
Step 3 Say the message: this song says that the new baby is welcome.
Rwandan drums, ingoma, played at a celebration. This is the sound of a big family day.
Tip
A birthday counts years. A birth ceremony says welcome
No candles at a birth ceremony. A brand new baby, and everybody glad.
Ask who the song is talking to. Here it is talking to the baby.
Do each one, then tap Show answer to check.
What is a birth ceremony?
Answer: the day the family and the neighbours come together to welcome a new baby.
Habimana says a birth ceremony is when you turn six. Is he right?
Answer: no. That is a birthday. A birth ceremony is for a baby who has just arrived.
Name two things people do at a birth ceremony.
Answer: sing, beat a drum, eat together, bring gifts, say kind words. Any two.
Who is a birth ceremony song talking to?
Answer: the new baby, and the family who are welcoming the baby.
Make up one line of your own to sing to a new baby.
Answer: any welcoming line, such as: we are glad you came to our home.
What you learned today
Quick check
